Head-to-Head Specification Audit
Shopify vs SimplePay
E-Commerce Developers · South Africa
Specification Matrix
| Metric | Shopify | SimplePay |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $29/mo | $2/moBetter |
| API Rate Limit | 2 req/min | 100 req/minBetter |
| Target Country | South Africa | South Africa |
| Category | E-Commerce Platform | HR & Payroll |
| Compliance | GDPR, CCPA, PCI-DSS | POPIA, SARS-compliant |
| Hosting Regions | US, EU, AU | ZA |
| Native Integrations | 7 listedBetter | 2 listed |
Shopify — Key Specs
- ✓Storefront API supports headless commerce with any frontend framework
- ✓Checkout extensibility via UI Extensions — no more checkout.liquid hacks
- ✓Built-in ZAR currency support and PayFast/Peach Payments gateway integration
- ✓Webhooks for 50+ event types with automatic retry on delivery failure
SimplePay — Key Specs
- ✓Cheapest PAYE-compliant payroll in SA
- ✓SARS eFiling automated
- ✓R2/employee/month pricing
- ✓Bulk payslip distribution
- ✓Cloud-based — no install needed
Frequently Asked Questions
What is cheaper, Shopify or SimplePay?+
SimplePay starts at $2/mo, which is lower than Shopify at $29/mo.
Which tool is better for compliance — Shopify or SimplePay?+
Shopify additionally supports GDPR, CCPA, PCI-DSS. SimplePay additionally supports POPIA, SARS-compliant.
Is Shopify or SimplePay compliant with South Africa's POPIA?+
SimplePay supports POPIA compliance. Shopify does not list POPIA as a supported framework.
Which has a higher API rate limit — Shopify or SimplePay?+
SimplePay has a higher API rate limit at 100 requests per minute. Shopify: 2 req/min. SimplePay: 100 req/min.
Which tool is better suited for South Africa?+
Shopify is evaluated for E-Commerce Developers in South Africa with hosting regions: US, EU, AU. SimplePay has hosting regions: ZA. For data residency in South Africa, check each vendor's data processing agreements.
Data last verified: 25 June 2026
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